Pfizer has won a key battle in its fight to maintain control over its blockbuster Lipitor, winning a high court case in the UK that upholds the pharma company's exclusivity of the active ingredient to Lipitor into 2011. Analysts say the ruling bodes well for Pfizer's patent fight in the US. India's Ranbaxy has been challenging the company's patent on the cholesterol drug, which brings in a whopping $12 billion per year. Pfizer's stock surged this morning on the news, helping push up the Dow in the process.
- read this report [1] from Forbes for more
PLUS: A group of patients has filed suit against Pfizer claiming that the company improperly promoted Lipitor to women and seniors suffering from heart disease and diabetes even though there is no clinical evidence to support it. Article [2]
Links:
[1] http://www.forbes.com/markets/equities/2005/10/12/pfizer-patent-pharmaceuticals-1012markets03.html
[2] http://www.nynewsday.com/news/health/ny-hschol094462431oct09,0,5951083.story?coll=ny-health-headlines